Research Article
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A Quantitative Study on Faculty Members’ Perceptions of and Attitudes towards Teaching and Assessing Pragmatic Competence in EFL Context

Year 2017, Volume: 21 Issue: 3, 1109 - 1121, 20.09.2017

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to
emphasize the perceptions and attitudes of faculty members in terms of teaching
and assessing pragmatic competence in foreign language education. Based on a
quantitative research design, this study showed that there were not statistically
significant differences among the faculty members in terms of their age,
gender, academic degree and teaching experiences concerning their attitudes
towards teaching and assessing pragmatic competence in foreign language
education. However, as to age, academic degree and teaching experience
variables, though there were not statistically significant differences among
the participants, the results revealed that there was a general increasing
tendency towards the awareness regarding teaching and assessment of pragmatic
competence as the participants gained experience in the field as well as in the
profession. The study revealed that field and professional experience helped
the participants expand their views in terms of the importance of pragmatic competence
in general and its teaching and assessment in particular.

References

  • Alco´n Soler, E. (2005). Does instruction work for learning pragmatics in the EFL context? System, 33,417-435. doi: 10.1016/j.system.2005.06.005.
  • Bachman, L. (1990). Fundamental considerations in language testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bardovi-Harlig, K. (1996). Pragmatics and language teaching: Bringing pragmatics and pedagogy together. In: Bouton, L.F. (Ed.), Pragmatics and language learning, 7. University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign, Urbana, IL, pp. 21-39.
  • Bardovi-Harlig, K. & Dörnyei, Z. (1998). Do language learners recognize pragmatic violations? Pragmatic vs. grammatical awareness in instructed L2 learning. TESOL Quarterly, 32, 233-259.
  • Bardovi-Harlig, K., & Mahan-Taylor, R. (2010). Introduction. In K, Bardovi-Harlig & R, Mahan-Taylor (Eds.), Teaching Pragmatics (pp. 1-13). Retrieved June 08, 2014, from http://exchanges.state.gov/media/oelp/teaching-pragmatics/introms.pdf.
  • Beebe, L. M., & Waring, H. Z. (2004). The linguistic encoding of pragmatic tone: Adverbials as words that work. In D. Boxer & A. D. Cohen (Eds.), Studying speaking to inform second language learning (228-249). Buffalo, NY: Multilingual Matters.
  • Blum-Kulka, S., & Olshtain, E. (1986). Too many words: Length of utterance and pragmatic failure. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 8(2), 47-61.
  • Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical base of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1, 1-47. doi: 10.1093/applin/I.l.l.
  • Chen, H. (2011). Study on necessity to cultivate English pragmatic competence of non-English majors. Asian Social Science, 7(9), 235-239. doi:10.5539/ass.v7n9p235.
  • Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of Syntax. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • Cohen, A. D., & Olshtain, E. (1981). Developing a measure of sociocultural competence: The case of apology. Language Learning, 31, 113-134. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-1770.1981.tb01375.x.
  • Halenko, N. & Jones, C. (2011). Teaching pragmatic awareness of spoken requests to Chinese EAP learners in the UK: Is explicit instruction effective? System, 39, 240-250.
  • Hymes, D. (1972). On communicative competence. In J. B. Price, & J. Holmes (Eds.), Sociolinguistics (pp. 269-293). Harmondsworth: Penguin.
  • Jeon, E. H., & Kaya, T. (2006). Effects of L2 instruction on interlanguage pragmatic development: A meta-analysis. In J. M. Norris and L. Ortega (Eds.), Synthesizing research on language learning and teaching (pp. 165-211). John Benjamins Publishing Company.
  • Leech, G. (1983). Principles of pragmatics. London: Longman.
  • Liddicoat, A. J., & Crozet, C. (2001). Acquiring French interactional norms through instruction. In K. Rose, & G. Kasper (Eds.), Pragmatics in language teaching (p. 125-144). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Martinez-Flor, A. & Fukuya, Y. (2005). The effects of instruction on learners’ production of appropriate and accurate suggestions. System, 33, 463-480.doi:10.1016/j.system.2005.06.007.
  • Nguyen, T., Pham, T., & Pham, M. (2012). The relative effects of explicit and implicit form-focused instruction on the development of L2 pragmatic competence. Journal of Pragmatics, 44, 416-434. doi:10.1016/j.pragma.2012.01.003.
  • Safont Jordà, M. (2005). Pragmatic production of third language learners of English: A focus on request acts modifiers. International Journal of Multilingualism, 2(2), 84-104. doi: 10.1080/14790710508668378.
  • Schauer, G. (2006). Pragmatic awareness in ESL and EFL contexts: Contrast and development. Language Learning, 56, 269-318.
  • Solak, E., & Bayar, A. (2015). Current challenges in English Language Learning in Turkish EFL context. Participatory Educational Research, 2(1), 106-115. doi: 10.17275/per.15.09.2.1.
  • Taguchi, N. (2011b). The Effect of L2 Proficiency and Study-Abroad Experience on Pragmatic Comprehension. Language Learning, 61(3), p. 904-939. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9922.2011.00633.x.
  • Takahashi, S. (2005). Pragmalinguistic awareness: Is it related to motivation and proficiency? Applied Linguistics, 26(1), 90-120. doi: 10.1093/applin/amh040.
  • Takahashi, T., & Beebe, L. M. (1987). The development of pragmatic competence by Japanese learners of English. JALT Journal, 8, 131-155.
  • Takimoto, M. (2008). The effects of deductive and inductive instruction on the development of language learners’ pragmatic competence. The Modern Language Journal, 92, 369-386. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-4781.2008.00752.x.
  • Takimoto, M. (2009). Exploring the effects of input-based treatment and test on the development of learners’ pragmatic proficiency. Journal of Pragmatics, 41, 1029-1046. doi: 10.1016/j.pragma.2008.12.001.
  • Thomas, J. (1983). Cross-cultural pragmatic failure. Applied Linguistics, 4, 91-112.
  • van Compernolle, R. (2011). Developing second language sociopragmatic knowledge through concept-based instruction: A microgenetic case study. Journal of Pragmatics, 43, 3267-3283. doi:10.1016/j.pragma.2011.06.009.
  • Wannaruk, A. (2008). Pragmatic transfer in Thai EFL refusals. RELCJournal, 39(3), 318-337. doi: 10.1177/0033688208096844.
Year 2017, Volume: 21 Issue: 3, 1109 - 1121, 20.09.2017

Abstract

References

  • Alco´n Soler, E. (2005). Does instruction work for learning pragmatics in the EFL context? System, 33,417-435. doi: 10.1016/j.system.2005.06.005.
  • Bachman, L. (1990). Fundamental considerations in language testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bardovi-Harlig, K. (1996). Pragmatics and language teaching: Bringing pragmatics and pedagogy together. In: Bouton, L.F. (Ed.), Pragmatics and language learning, 7. University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign, Urbana, IL, pp. 21-39.
  • Bardovi-Harlig, K. & Dörnyei, Z. (1998). Do language learners recognize pragmatic violations? Pragmatic vs. grammatical awareness in instructed L2 learning. TESOL Quarterly, 32, 233-259.
  • Bardovi-Harlig, K., & Mahan-Taylor, R. (2010). Introduction. In K, Bardovi-Harlig & R, Mahan-Taylor (Eds.), Teaching Pragmatics (pp. 1-13). Retrieved June 08, 2014, from http://exchanges.state.gov/media/oelp/teaching-pragmatics/introms.pdf.
  • Beebe, L. M., & Waring, H. Z. (2004). The linguistic encoding of pragmatic tone: Adverbials as words that work. In D. Boxer & A. D. Cohen (Eds.), Studying speaking to inform second language learning (228-249). Buffalo, NY: Multilingual Matters.
  • Blum-Kulka, S., & Olshtain, E. (1986). Too many words: Length of utterance and pragmatic failure. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 8(2), 47-61.
  • Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical base of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1, 1-47. doi: 10.1093/applin/I.l.l.
  • Chen, H. (2011). Study on necessity to cultivate English pragmatic competence of non-English majors. Asian Social Science, 7(9), 235-239. doi:10.5539/ass.v7n9p235.
  • Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of Syntax. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  • Cohen, A. D., & Olshtain, E. (1981). Developing a measure of sociocultural competence: The case of apology. Language Learning, 31, 113-134. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-1770.1981.tb01375.x.
  • Halenko, N. & Jones, C. (2011). Teaching pragmatic awareness of spoken requests to Chinese EAP learners in the UK: Is explicit instruction effective? System, 39, 240-250.
  • Hymes, D. (1972). On communicative competence. In J. B. Price, & J. Holmes (Eds.), Sociolinguistics (pp. 269-293). Harmondsworth: Penguin.
  • Jeon, E. H., & Kaya, T. (2006). Effects of L2 instruction on interlanguage pragmatic development: A meta-analysis. In J. M. Norris and L. Ortega (Eds.), Synthesizing research on language learning and teaching (pp. 165-211). John Benjamins Publishing Company.
  • Leech, G. (1983). Principles of pragmatics. London: Longman.
  • Liddicoat, A. J., & Crozet, C. (2001). Acquiring French interactional norms through instruction. In K. Rose, & G. Kasper (Eds.), Pragmatics in language teaching (p. 125-144). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Martinez-Flor, A. & Fukuya, Y. (2005). The effects of instruction on learners’ production of appropriate and accurate suggestions. System, 33, 463-480.doi:10.1016/j.system.2005.06.007.
  • Nguyen, T., Pham, T., & Pham, M. (2012). The relative effects of explicit and implicit form-focused instruction on the development of L2 pragmatic competence. Journal of Pragmatics, 44, 416-434. doi:10.1016/j.pragma.2012.01.003.
  • Safont Jordà, M. (2005). Pragmatic production of third language learners of English: A focus on request acts modifiers. International Journal of Multilingualism, 2(2), 84-104. doi: 10.1080/14790710508668378.
  • Schauer, G. (2006). Pragmatic awareness in ESL and EFL contexts: Contrast and development. Language Learning, 56, 269-318.
  • Solak, E., & Bayar, A. (2015). Current challenges in English Language Learning in Turkish EFL context. Participatory Educational Research, 2(1), 106-115. doi: 10.17275/per.15.09.2.1.
  • Taguchi, N. (2011b). The Effect of L2 Proficiency and Study-Abroad Experience on Pragmatic Comprehension. Language Learning, 61(3), p. 904-939. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9922.2011.00633.x.
  • Takahashi, S. (2005). Pragmalinguistic awareness: Is it related to motivation and proficiency? Applied Linguistics, 26(1), 90-120. doi: 10.1093/applin/amh040.
  • Takahashi, T., & Beebe, L. M. (1987). The development of pragmatic competence by Japanese learners of English. JALT Journal, 8, 131-155.
  • Takimoto, M. (2008). The effects of deductive and inductive instruction on the development of language learners’ pragmatic competence. The Modern Language Journal, 92, 369-386. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-4781.2008.00752.x.
  • Takimoto, M. (2009). Exploring the effects of input-based treatment and test on the development of learners’ pragmatic proficiency. Journal of Pragmatics, 41, 1029-1046. doi: 10.1016/j.pragma.2008.12.001.
  • Thomas, J. (1983). Cross-cultural pragmatic failure. Applied Linguistics, 4, 91-112.
  • van Compernolle, R. (2011). Developing second language sociopragmatic knowledge through concept-based instruction: A microgenetic case study. Journal of Pragmatics, 43, 3267-3283. doi:10.1016/j.pragma.2011.06.009.
  • Wannaruk, A. (2008). Pragmatic transfer in Thai EFL refusals. RELCJournal, 39(3), 318-337. doi: 10.1177/0033688208096844.
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Journal Section Makaleler
Authors

Ayşegül Takkaç Tulgar This is me 0000-0003-4520-4421

Publication Date September 20, 2017
Published in Issue Year 2017 Volume: 21 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Takkaç Tulgar, A. (2017). A Quantitative Study on Faculty Members’ Perceptions of and Attitudes towards Teaching and Assessing Pragmatic Competence in EFL Context. Atatürk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 21(3), 1109-1121.

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